Mirrors

Mirrors

Track Listings

1. Dr. Music

2. Great Sun Jester

3. In Thee

4. Mirrors

5. Moon Crazy

6. Vigil

7. I Am the Storm

8. You're Not the One (I Was Looking For)

9. Lonely Teardrops

Tracks:

Smoke N' Mirrors
Capetown
Southwest Passage
Waterz Edge
Blue Days
Spellbinder
Memeza
Povo
Lovely Day
Township
Forget Me Nots
Stone Cool
Motherland
4 1/2 Storm

Amazon.com

As comfortable as guitarist Lee Ritenour has always been in the smooth jazz format, he has strived to go beyond it with his embrace of world music and serious jazz stylists including Wes Montgomery. Smoke 'N' Mirrors is a characteristic production in gathering up a sizable cast of contemporary cronies including Patrice Rushen, Dave Grusin, Richard Bona and Abraham Laboriel, but Ritenour's involvement in South African and Brazilian music and his emphasis on acoustic guitar give it a fresh identity. The wistful "Blue Days (Dias Azuis)," written and arranged by Daniel Jobim, son of Antonio Carlos, and featuring the singer Joyce, is one of the album's highlights. The young South African vocalist Zamajobe, featured on three songs, is a real discovery. You may wish Ritenour had stayed on ethnic turf and saved the more familiar, keyboard-sweetened fare for another album. Or you may enjoy the variety of Smoke 'N' Mirrors, which ranges percussively from Sheila E.'s congas to Satnam Ramgotra's Indian tablas. --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews:

Vintage Lee.......2007-07-12

Lee Ritenour continues to bring us his honest, professional e wonderful delivery.
No smoke and mirrors in his music... just pure artistry !

"Smoke 'n' Mirrors" Smokes!.......2007-07-04

I should begin by making you aware of three things: (1) I'm partial. As a musician myself (hornman), I've literally worshipped Lee Ritenour since the first day I heard him play (try "Harlequin" with Dave Grusin!). (2) I plead 'guilty' to purchasing a CD for a single song because you can't get that rendition anywhere else. And (3), being a 70s teenager, the Lee + Patrice Rushen combination was something I simply couldn't pass up. When I added it all up, "I simply had to have "Forget Me Nots." After listening to the tune at least 100 times repeated, my wife suggested I listen to the other tunes on the CD. MAN! I wasn't the least bit disappointed! For me, a tune either "cooks," is "hot" or "smokes" - the threee levels of burn. Lee, Don and Eric REALLY put this one together. If music has to start out "cookin'" for you, this CD is a must!
The Doctor

?.......2007-05-07

What happened to the Lee Ritenour sound? I didn't care for this CD.

Lee Ritenour Smoke and Mirrors.......2007-03-10

An excellent CD by a great artist

Review of Smoke 'N' Mirrors.......2007-03-06

Lee Ritenour has been a favorite of mine for years. It's always good to get Lee's latest work when their released.

Average customer rating:

Give it some time
You've lost what you love, in that mess of details...
Promising
sometimes it's fun to act suicidal
not my favorite, but some good songs.

Fevers and Mirrors
Bright Eyes
Manufacturer: Saddle Creek
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Figure 8

ASIN: B00004TRWE
Release Date: 2000-05-30

Tracks:

A Spindle, A Darkness, A Fever, And A Necklace
A Scale, A Mirror And Those Indifferent Clocks
The Calender Hung Itself...
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Album Description

The most focused and conceptually complete release to date, Bright Eyes' 'Fevers and Mirrors' is a modern day masterpiece from one of the most important songwriters of our time. Twelve songs of brutal honesty and ingenious storytelling bring us a bit closer to this undeniable talent.

Customer Reviews:

Give it some time.......2007-01-27

When i first heard Bright Eyes i actually considered their music to be some of the worst i'd ever heard. I hated it, but my friend kept ranting on about how talented Conor Oberst is and how moving his music, so i went out on a limb and bought an album (Lifted, or The Story Is In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground). I somehow feel in love after the first listen. Everything my friend had told me was true and i was forced to admit to the fact that she was right and i was wrong.

After that I found anything and everything i could by them and I can asure you that this is the best single collection of Bright Eyes songs ever written. I admit, this album is challenging, but just take the oppurtunity to sit back and listen to what Conor has to say and I guarantee that even if you don't appreciate the music you will appreciate the brilliance of this young man. Bright Eyes is one of the very few great voices of today's young America.

You've lost what you love, in that mess of details..........2007-01-20

Comparing Oberst's music to Dylan's is very unfair. Unfair to Oberst, that is, whose music exceeds that of Dylan in both ambition, and execution. This album is certainly Dylanesque, as it follows Dylan's tradition of redefining folk music as an attempt to lyrically highlight problematic trends in human behavior, and their impact upon the identity of the individual. But where Dylan attempts this mostly through intentionally precious lyrics soaked in beatnik sentimentality, Oberst willingly explicates many of his own anecdotes, allowing the subtlety in his music to dwell within its style rather than lyrical ambiguity. Many of his songs contain five or six poignant lines, any of which could be the product of a whole evening of discussion between friends, and their philosophies on life. Like Coleridge did with his conversation poems, in this album, Oberst addresses the listener with a friendly, pensive sincerity, combing over his experiences and reactions to them in search of some greater conclusion about how human behavior, and society's values, can be improved.

If you're impatient with friends who attempt to engage you in deep discussion, you probably won't like this album. If you're only impressed by music that is dogmatically hip, these songs probably won't do much for you. And if you think that you have everything figured out, concerning how relationships should be formed and how people should communicate, and other perspectives simply irritate you, then you'll especially dislike this. But if you generally like literature at its most idealistic and meaningful, then you will find that this is such literature, in song format, and you should eat it up. I also highly recommend the album, "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning," by the same artist.

Promising.......2006-11-03

A beautiful collection of songs that hints broadly at the amazing albums to come...Standout songs include The Calender Hung Itself and Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh.

sometimes it's fun to act suicidal.......2006-08-15

Most of this album makes me want to bash my head on the wall. Repeatedly. However, there are 4 or 5 songs I actually like. I have fun wailing along with Oberst's ridiculously melodramatic, warbling vocals, thinking all the while, "Oh, woe is me! Oh, alas, I'm SO depressed... NO one understands me, NO ONE!" To the people who hate this album, try to see it in a new light... it's FUNNY! If you still hate it, no problem. I understand. (I'm also surprised more people don't find the "interview" humorous. It makes me laugh every time I hear it.)

not my favorite, but some good songs........2006-02-23

but maybe i just need to listen to it a few more times.

either way i love bright eyes. this one just hasn't quite caught me like the others have.

although i have to say, the calendar that hung itself is a perfectly heart wrenching soul rocking song.

Path: An Ambient Journey from Windham Hill

Average customer rating:

Nice massage music.
The Best of Ambient Music
Lydia
A tapestry of earth and music...
Path for yoga, for relaxation

Path: An Ambient Journey from Windham Hill
Mark Isham , Bob Holroyd , Xavier Descarpentries , Uman , Gabrielle Roth & the Mirrors , Dean Evenson , Tim Story , Garry Hughes , Heavenly Music Corporation , and Global Communication
Manufacturer: Windham Hill Records
ProductGroup: Music
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Tracks:

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Customer Reviews:

Nice massage music. .......2007-06-09

I own a day spa and my therapists all enjoy this music. It is great for relaxation.

The Best of Ambient Music.......2005-10-22

This is the sort of rare CD that you can turn on, set "repeat CD" and not touch it for the day; or even for days! I have had this CD for many, many years... and it has never lost its appeal. PS: This is NOT "upbeat" jazzy ambient; but, mellow "calm you down" ambient. Each track is unique.

Lydia.......2005-05-21

Most of the tracks on this album are very good, but Lydia by Tim Story is special. It is one of the most hauntingly beautiful pieces of music I have ever come across.

A tapestry of earth and music..........2002-09-06

This is a marvelously moving album to experience. While all the artists are different the album flows together very nicely. It moves along at its own pace, far far different than the pace of much of the everyday world in which we live. It is mellow and is not something you actively listen to although over time the melodies become quite clear and, oddly enough, captivating even exciting, though on a different level.

Play it in the background or play it in the car and suddenly an entirely different ambience is created. It's a beautiful work. I never tire of it and it embraces whatever mood I'm in and allows it to unfold in a rhythm all its own. You won't regret it a bit.

Path for yoga, for relaxation.......2000-10-16

As a Yoga instructor and artist I am constantly seaching for that special flow- that music that you consciously hear as you begin yoga or meditation, but has the ability to disappear into the recesses of your mind as your awareness attunes to a different level. Path invokes relaxation. It is fast enough to use in anything involving movement, yet not so fast you feel hurried in any way. I am not sure that it would be slow enough for pure meditation. Every musical creation on this CD is different, yet it flows seemlessly. I also bought YogaZone, Music for Yoga- it was good-a few shared artists- but nothing compared to Path. If you are looking for a complement to your yoga, or want some music to create a relaxed atomosphere this is it!

Average customer rating:

Well, I'm no poet, but I can't be fooled
Way Under-rated BOC classic
BOC's most DIFFERENT...but still GOOD!
Buy this just for 'The Vigil'
A strange experiment....3.5 stars

Mirrors
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
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Binding: Audio CD

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Cultosaurus Erectus
Fire of Unknown Origin
The Revolution by Night
On Your Feet or on Your Knees
Blue Öyster Cult

ASIN: B0000025GG
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Dr. Music
The Great Sun Jester
In Thee
Mirrors
Moon Crazy
The Vigil
I Am The Storm
You're Not The One (I Was Looking For)
Lonely Teardrops

Customer Reviews:

Well, I'm no poet, but I can't be fooled.......2006-12-11

Mirrors, with all of its faults, hardly qualifies as BOC's worst album (an honor more likely bestowed on Revolution by Night or Club Ninja). Like many reviewers here, the first time I listened to this album my jaw hit the floor during the opening throes of Dr. Music and I nearly snapped the needle off my turntable trying to turn it off (My nickname was not chosen out of my love for this song). To my shock and amazement, BOC opened their shows with Dr. Music for several years. The non-conformist in me despised Disco at the time and despite warming to The Trammps' Disco Inferno and a few other Disco tunes in later years, Dr. Music has NEVER grown on me.

The Great Sun Jester is the first collaboration between British sci-fi author Michael Moorcock and Eric Bloom (an avid sci-fi fan) and one of the better songs on the album. With its compelling lyrics, excellent vocals and musicianship, Sun Jester stands up to almost any of BOC's best and would be right at home on Agents of Fortune, Spectres, or Fire of Unknown Origin.

The acoustic love song In Thee is a bit of a departure for the band but has withstood the test of time to become a concert favorite; allowing its writer, Allen Lanier, to come out from behind his keyboards and solo on guitar.

Mirrors is an infectious piece of pop that seems to rise above the Disco influence to remain a pleasant song today in the same vein as Goin' Through the Motions.

Moon Crazy seems to have fans divided over its appeal. I am on the fence, finding the song listenable in most respects and love Buck's work on the end of the song.

The Vigil is my favorite song on the album. Alien theme aside, Vigil has actually taken on new meaning for me as corporate and political corruption, greed and lack of will are sending our improbably habitable world to the brink of destruction. Like Golden Age of Leather (Spectres), The Vigil seems to change style and tempo every other verse but still manages to hold together musically. The line: "They say the earth has fallen" followed by Buck's ringing guitar bridge is absolutely chilling.

I Am The Storm is a classic rocker that sadly is never performed live. This song is vengeance personified and cathartically speaks for every victim of infidelity or jilting.

You're Not The One (I Was Looking For) and Lonely Teardrops are scarcely worth mentioning and are the likely source of the album's nickname "Errors" mentioned by Popoff in his book, Blue Oyster Cult: Secrets Revealed!

All in all not their worst album, but a far cry from BOC's best. Like Agents of Fortune, there is half a good album here but it lacks the draw of a Don't Fear the Reaper or Burnin' for You that would compel you to buy it. A must for any BOC fan nonetheless.

Way Under-rated BOC classic.......2006-08-29

I will have to say that the criticism of this album is very unfair in my opinion. While this album has much sentimental value to me (first girlfriend introduced it to me), I can see why some would consider it a commercial sellout. I tend to think BOC was trying to capitalize on a more varied direction, which they started with Agents. Nevertheless, I still look at BOC's other works, and this stands out along with Agents and Fire of Unknown Origin as their best. Maybe I am not a BOC purist, but I have a true appreciation for their 5 or so years that started with Agents and ended with Fire of Unknown Origin. It was a special time for me and a special time for BOC - they were selling large numbers of albums, filling arenas and producing some very classic rock.

Looking at Mirrors, the start off song `Dr. Music' is probably the weakest and most dispensable song on the album. It's a throw away song and probably keeps Mirrors from 5 stars. Fast-forward to `Sun Jester', `In Thee' and `Mirrors' and you have three perfect songs that really showcase the mainstream feel that BOC could perfect if it wanted. `In Thee', which is a love ballad unlikely to appear on any BOC album, is pure perfection. Allan Lanier wrote it, Buck Dharma's vocals are never better and the production is flawless. I love this song for everything it is not - hard driving, psychedilic, Eric Bloom vocals etc.

The Vigil and I Am The Storm are probably the two songs the feel the most familiar for BOC purists. Both are very well done and showcase some extremely tasteful and slick guitar. `You're Not The One' is another one of those `where did this come from?' songs - however, I love it. `Lonely Teardrops' is such a fantastic closing ballad. The traces of lost love are all over this album and `Teardrops' is a somber but satisfying closer. I cannot say whether or not you will love this album like I do. However, I think anyone would find something they like on it.

BOC's most DIFFERENT...but still GOOD!.......2006-02-27

Mirrors is THE single MOST DIFFERENT album of all of BOC's 13 studio albums, and is generally not well-received by most hard-core fans who like to call it the "disco album". It is vastly underated, and due to this fact, some new-comers give it only one listen (if that) before wanting to hate it. I however, am one of the fortunate ones who remained patient with it and gave it an honest try, and I am glad I did! Though not in my top five BOC favorites, it is still a pleasure to listen to. It starts off with "Dr. Music", an up-beat little rocker that assures you that you're in for a somewhat "different" BOC ride than you're used to. My favorite songs are "Dr. Music", "In Thee", "The Vigil" (the ABSOLUTE BEST track on Mirrors), "You're Not The One(I Was Looking For)" and the perfect closer "Lonely Teardrops". These songs are amazing. "Mirrors" however, is one of those lame songs I just can't get into as much as other BOC songs- it sounds too "sissy". But on the album as a whole, I think that alot of people dislike it because it's BOC's most soft and radio-friendly album of them all. However, you yourself might feel differently if you "step out of the box" a little and stop thinking of BOC as strictly a good rock & roll band, but also as one of the most interesting one of the bunch who aren't afraid to take a risk and experiment a little. If you're a die-hard "Black & White Period" BOC fan, then chances are you WON'T like Mirrors. But if you like to hear them evolve from that era and experiment a little, you'll like Mirrors. I gave it only a four because all though it IS good, it is not typically the FIRST CD I pop in when in the mood for some BOC. But however different, I still think it is a very good BOC album, and you may agree. Worth a listen!

Buy this just for 'The Vigil'.......2006-02-08

'The Vigil' is one of the most unsung rock anthems of all time. Easily holds its own against other anthems of the 70's, 80's and 90's.

There are many solid songs on this CD-ROM, but 'The Vigil' makes it worth every penny. 'In Thee' is a superlative song with precise harmonies and tight acoustic guitar work.

A strange experiment....3.5 stars.......2005-12-13

Blue Oyster Cult's 1979 release "Mirrors" remains to this day as a very strange creation. It is easy to see that when compared to 1980's "Cultosaurus Erectus" or 1981's "Fire of Unknown Origin", "Mirrors" seems to lack direction and prowess. But this in and of itself is not enough to doom "Mirrors" to the category of unforgivable, and this collection of songs ultimately stands the test of time.

What "Mirrors" does well is capitalize on the more melodic side of the band, showcasing some very radio friendly songs with catchy choruses and good guitar work. "Dr. Music" leads off and features a guitar line that hooks the listener like a fish. The harmonica lead works well, and although the vocal phrasing seems a bit too calculated, the song is a good rocker. "The Great Sun Jester" continues, and is a very listenable Styx-like song, again featuring great guitar leads and sound. The songs "In Thee" & "Mirrors" are the ultimate pop rush, as sweet as candy and as radio friendly as BOC gets. Both are well crafted songs and are highlights of this album. "Moon Crazy" is next and although somewhat likeable, features a horrible cabaret -like verse that makes me sick every time I hear it. I would have much preferred a harder edged song at this point in the song lineup, to balance things out.

The next two songs "The Vigil" and "I am the Storm" showcase the records only two somewhat heavy songs. "The Vigil" tends to overstay it's welcome with its changing of gears from a heavy Joe Walsh inspired blues oriented guitar riff to a Partridge Family-like sing along section, then back to heavy riffing. Although this song is not entirely disagreeable, it is awkward in structure and suffers from juvenile lyrics about alien abductions: "....I've got a cam-er-a...and an airtight al-i-bi". That line is as bad as BOC gets.

But "Mirrors" returns and kicks sand in the listeners face with "I am the Storm", which is BOC at its finest: Loud with multiple guitars up front, and Eric Bloom firmly in command with the lead vocal. This is easily one of the best songs on "Mirrors" and is underplayed in concert. Sadly, the balance of this collection does not reach the standard of classic Blue Oyster Cult: "You're Not the One (I was looking for)" is pure sweet pop nonsense with a good hooking chorus, and provides some guilty pleasure, but the Al Bouchard vocal seems out of place for such pop filler, and the listener can't help but feel as if the band is not taking the song seriously; and the bizarre "Lonely Teardrops", although listenable, features an outdated almost disco-like keyboard line. This song tends to grow on the listener over time, however, and is suitably strange for BOC, even in pop mode. In conclusion, "Mirrors" contains some really good melodies and hooks, and although it may not rank in the top three all-time best BOC records to own, most of the arrangements are solid, the guitar work shimmers, the recording is super clean, and it is certainly worthy of a listen just for being different and a breath of fresh air.

Average customer rating:

Nice rockin' album!
alan4162
Not A Bad Comeback
The BOYS return!!
The Original Band Is Back With Mixed Results

Done with Mirrors
Aerosmith
Manufacturer: Geffen Gold Line Sp.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000000OY5
Release Date: 1997-08-12

Tracks:

Let The Music Do The Talking
My Fist Your Face
Shame On You
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Proof positive that the Toxic Twins should never be apart, Done with Mirrors was Aerosmith's first album since Joe Perry returned to the band in 1985. Though it didn't garner as much commercial success as did the follow-up Permanent Vacation, this album is in many ways truer to the heart of what Aerosmith was in their 1970s heyday. From the opening drive of "Let the Music Do the Talking" (which reuses that great riff from 1977's "Draw the Line"), to the strong grooves of "The Reason a Dog" and "Gypsy Boots," to the rockin' shuffle of "The Hop," Done with Mirrors is full of strong moments. The two best tracks on the album, though, show Aerosmith heading back to their roots: the swampy rock of "She's On Fire" and the jive-to-drive of "Darkness," both of which have the raw, bluesy base of the band's best material. If nothing else, Done with Mirrors indicated that Aerosmith may have been down, but they definitely weren't out of the running yet--something that Permanent Vacation would prove two years later. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Nice rockin' album!.......2007-05-16

I just recently bought this album back & I'm glad that I did! I can't believe that I sold it before! This is definitely a traditional sounding Aerosmith album, not a huge album like 'Pump' or 'Permanent Vacation,' but it has plenty of good grooves & it's nice for when you need a quick fix of hard rock when you are on the go. It's definitely worth it to pick up if you are an Aerosmith fan especially of the 80s.

alan4162.......2007-05-11

this cd is good from the first song to the last.joe perry does more slide guitar on this cd and my opinion is it sounds awesome.highley recommended.

Not A Bad Comeback.......2007-02-12

This was a very exciting time to be an Aerosmith fan
The original members were regrouping to record their first new album in a long time...The result was 'Done With Mirrors'

The debut single was great 'Let The Music Do The Talking' with the video that went with it got the attention of the music world,but they never released a second single,not quite sure why because there were many songs certainly up to the task
the second song on the CD 'My Fist Your Face'is very catchy classic Aerosmith...then comes 'Shame On You' this song gets a little repetitive but it isn't awful,then comes 'The Reason A Dog' which is awesome and should have been a single,very clever lyrics and catchy melody..then comes 'Shela' a pretty good tune with quite a bit of atmosphere,not a standout tune but not bad,then comes the weakest song (in my opinion) Gypsy Boots which has the classic Aerosmith sound but is just too repetitive and dare I say boring...then comes a highly underrated song 'She's On Fire' which would have been the perfect song to release a video for,it has a perfect beat for girls to dance to (which all those who read my reviews know how important that is to me) the song is just oozing sexuality and should have been a single...the next song is 'The Hop' which is pure classic Aerosmith,has a swing beat to it and is very memorable,great song...the CD ends with pure atmosphere 'Darkness' which actually sounds similar to the stuff from 'Rock In A Hard Place' (the previous Aerosmith release) a very cool tune to just sit back and groove to
so what went wrong,the majority of the songs are either above average or great,well what happened was the production sucks (sorry,just being honest with my opinion) which came as a total shock as Ted Templeman produced this and he was the mastermind behind the classic Van Halen sound...but with Done With Mirrors the band just sounds dull and lifeless and empty...
there is really no other way to describe it,however the band did fix that problem with all their future releases

The Upside - Many great songs,the band sounds great and Steven Tyler sings with that unmistakable tone that all Aerosmith fans love,the clever lyrics are there and so are the hooks,the highlights are 'She's On Fire','Let The Music Do The Talking',and 'The Hop'

The Downside - The production is awful,and there are a few filler songs

The Bottom Line - If you are an Aerosmith fan you should have this for your collection,if for no other reason 'She's On Fire' should be a timeless Aerosmith classic in the same league as 'Walk This Way'
However I would recommend starting with a greatest hits package first if you are new to the band,not a bad comeback album but the best was definitely yet to come...donutman says so!!!

The BOYS return!!.......2007-02-03

Wow! I can't believe it! An editorial review that actually hits the mark! Yeah, this was a good album, straight ahead, hard rocking, the boys trying to get it together again. Later on, their albums got more and more pop, or soft for me, but Mirrors has some damn good rock on it. They could always bring it in concert, but the albums after this were mostly mellower affairs. I saw them on the Permanent Vacation tour, and as a child of the 70's, (who had never seen them) it was a dream come true! They were simply excellent. If you like 1970's Aerosmith, you will like this album, if you only know later albums, you may find this "too simple", not enough "creativity". nuff said.

The Original Band Is Back With Mixed Results.......2007-01-25

Perry and Whitford are back, the results are rather ho hum. Like "Rock" the album is not bad, but there is nothing that really stands out either. It opens with "Let The Music Do The Talking" which was a solo hit for Joe Perry from his solo album of the same name. "My Fist Your Face" is a decent rocker. The album ends fairly strong with "She's On Fire", "The Hop", and "Darkness" which are all decent tunes. Overall an average Aerosmith album.

Average customer rating:

My Mother's Music
Moving to the Music, a personal & "daily" practice
AMAZING!

Initiation
Gabrielle Roth & the Mirrors
Manufacturer: Raven
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Customer Reviews:

My Mother's Music.......2005-01-31

I heard this album when I was in my 1-didgets and I must say, this is a good album for the following.

#1: Dancing

#2: Mediation

#3: Yoga/Stretching

#4: Martial Arts

If you need some relaxation for you body, mind and soul, don't hesitate to purchase this.

Moving to the Music, a personal & "daily" practice.......2001-03-20

I first learned of Gabrielle Roth at a Sacred Path men's retreat. The retreat focused on sacred movement, attaching emotions & totems to each of Roth's five dance styles: flowing, stacatto, chaos, lyrical, and stillness. We had live drumming at the retreat and didn't use recorded music. On the way home, however, I stopped and bought a copy of INITIATION so I could work through the rhythms myself.

If not danced to, the music is OK, nothing spectacular. It's not particularly great party dance music, either. But as the basis for an embodied spiritual practice? Wow! It's hard to beat.

I open up with flowing, connecting with Goddess, connecting with Earth, connecting with Ancestors, connecting with Spirit, connecting with Heart. I let my body move in flowing motions, softly, gently, slowly opening, encompassing more and more.

Moving on to stacatto, I move into a new energy space. Man, the toolmaker, not simply flowing with the current, but carving out a life. My energy level is rising. Into this movement I pour my plans, my goals, all that I would control.

The third movement, Chaos, seems to be the natural result of carving out my expectations from life. I let my body move wildly, struggling to control the rhythm, to push the river, to herd cats. This is where I bring my anger, frustration, and fear, letting the emotions flow through body language, in which no lie can be enacted.

The exhaustion of Chaos leads naturally into the rest of lyrical movement. It's discovering a new level of peace, of connectedness with the Universe, with Goddess, with Spirit; knowing that I'm not alone in the Chaos.

Finally, comes stillness, where I allow my motions to wind down, allow my body to slow down, to come to rest, to enter into meditation.

I've not worked with the other body music on the CD, I don't have enough time most days to work through the five rhythms. But that leaves me something to look forward to.

AMAZING!.......2000-03-23

This is one of the most magical CDs I've ever heard. The music is purifying. It helps to focus my mind at the end of the day when I need to relax.

Average customer rating:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Let Me Introduce You to the Metal Fiddle!
Better Than Basically Every Other Band Today
Great Album, something for everyone
Goodbye Mimicry, hello The End...
Amazing album from a very amazing band

Palace of Mirrors
Estradasphere
Manufacturer: The End Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000HIP49W
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Tracks:

TITLE
PALACE OF MIRRORS
A CORPORATE MERGER
THE TERRIBLE BEAUTYPOWER OF MEOW
COLOSSAL RISK
THE UNFOLDING PAUSE ON THE THRESHOLD
SMUGGLED MUTATION
SIX HANDS
THE DEBUTANTE
FLOWER GARDEN OF AN EVIL MAN
THOSE WHO KNOW
PALACE OF MIRRORS REPRISE
THE RETURN

Album Description

ESTRADASPHERE are an eclectic and unclassifiable group that brings together elements from a wide-range of styles (gypsy death metal, 60's foreign cinema rock, expansive orchestrations, progressive rock) with such perseverance and major focus on the aesthetic of their sound

Customer Reviews:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Let Me Introduce You to the Metal Fiddle!.......2007-07-31

It is insane how this 6 piece band pulled off such an amazing album with no lyrics, no voice track, just hardcore genre twisting and flawless songwriting. At one point in the cd, it sounds somewhat like a movie soundtrack to an asian western film and another song it sounds like gypsy/metal mixed. The one criticism that I have with this cd is that it is so impossible to label. Unfortunately the music store I work at doesnt have an experimental section, so my dilemma is "where does it really belong?" Nevertheless, this is still an amazing album, for fans of.. well, music.. real, great music

Better Than Basically Every Other Band Today.......2007-07-07

Estradasphere kills every other modern band in terms of musicianship, originality, effort, and songwriting. I dare you to listen to this album without saying "Wow."

Great Album, something for everyone.......2007-06-28

Any serious fan of progressive and experimental will love this album. There is a very cool and authentic gypsy influence over the whole thing as well as a lot of jazz influence. Immediately everyone compares this to Frank Zappa, which is valid although Estradasphere certainly have their own sound that they have developed. This record has a wide variety of feels to it, and all of them are done very well. Somehow Estradasphere make the transition from gypsy music to metal work wonderfully.

Goodbye Mimicry, hello The End..........2007-04-11

Estradasphere has always been something of a hilarious self-parody not unlike Mr. Bungle. In fact, their first album was produced by Mr. Bungle guitarist Trey Spruance. As expected, their music has always hopped around from genre to genre, tempo to tempo, and style to style with complete disregard for any kind of musical conventions, standards, or rules. Drummer/composer Dave Murray is quite a far-reaching individual who managed to implement such things as classic surf rock, gypsy music, death metal, orchestral scores, jingle tunes, disco, progressive rock, and god knows what else into a single entity that, while usually quite entertaining and impressive, often came out lacking cohesiveness to one degree or another.

However, Dave Murray parted ways with Estradasphere after completion of their third album, Quadropus, to follow through with his own project entitled The Deserts of Traun (which, by the way, is quite awesome and should be acquired by all Estradasphere fans post-haste), and the band themselves have moved to bizarro label The End Records. While I have the utmost respect for Mr. Murray and Trey Spruance's label Mimicry, I must say that for all of us who have been patiently waiting for Estradasphere to finally realize their potential and put out an album of monstrous proportions - the wait is over! Palace of Mirrors is undeniably the coolest thing the band has done yet. Oh sure, the album still has that magic Esphere touch that succeeds in stuffing together styles and genres that would never fit together in the hands of a lesser band, but this time around the styles aren't just stitched together sporadically like Frankenstein gone horribly wrong. Instead, the surf, the gypsy, the jingles, the metal, and the Eastern have all been layered on top of one another to make for an incredibly cohesive album that sounds more like a bizarre movie soundtrack than anything else. Perhaps if Danny Elfman (responsible for scoring movies like Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Army of Darkness, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, and other completely ridiculous films) had indulged heavily in psychedelic drugs and listened to metal, he would've created something comparable to this. Not that there's anything particularly psychedelic about this album... it just seemed like an amusing analogy and one that isn't horribly off.

One thing this album succeeds admirably at is garnering the potential to appeal to a huuuuge audience of listeners, assuming they can be bothered to listen (which may be a tough undertaking in this day and age of musical apathy). Music so complex, inspired, and intricate has never been so fun and accessible. I challenge anybody out there to sit through the 8+ minutes of "A Corporate Merger" and not at least crack a smile. It's impossible. Starting off with smooth lounge sounds, moving on into classic accordion-led goofiness that might easily pass for edgy yet traditional Klezmer music, and on into folky violin melodies backed by jazzy drum work, and on into jumpy keyboard-led Arabian themes... the song then spends some time in a funky jam of smooth fiddles, deft rhythmic interactions, and an electric tsugaru-shamisen (a Japanese guitar-like 3-stringed instrument played with a plectrum)... after a few minutes of that, the song explodes into a furious metallic assault that manages to retain an extremely light-hearted attitude due to the fact that it's headed up by searing violins that sound like they're being played by frenzied gypsies - and just like that, the cleanest and most natural transition imaginable lapses the song back into soothing lounge sounds not unlike what you might hear at a live jazz cafe.

Or how about "Smuggled Mutation"? Here's a song that was probably inspired by a nightmare and shows you exactly what happens when you mix violin, trumpet, banjo, acoustic shamisen, furious double bass drumming, blast beats, distorted guitar riffing, a standup acoustic bass, melodies straight out of a Tim Burton movie, and a giant serving of humor (or perhaps madness, either would get the point across). This song is so absolutely bizarre and amazing that it makes me cry in ecstasy. Then there's the closer "The Return", which is easily one of the coolest songs I've heard in a very long time. It's a metal song at its base, but it's metal WITH VIOLIN LEADS!!!! Much like everything else on here, these guys squeeze campfire melodies out of their violins and juxtapose them against loud guitars and insane rhythmic work and make it all sound like it's the most natural and ear-pleasing thing in the world. Unbelievable.

The other tracks on this album range from such whacky genres as "Bulgarian Surf", "Romanian Gypsy Metal", and "Spaghetti Eastern" to straight up surf rock, baroque classical, creepy detective themes, laid back jazzy escapades led by cimbaloms (a cimbalom is basically a hammered dulcimer), and things that sound like cartoon soundtracks wrung through The Twilight Zone... but all of these things are drenched in the sweet insanity that is Estradasphere, so they are never typical, never boring, and absolutely never what you expect.

Their live shows are also fairly ridiculous. Not unlike fellow labelmates Stolen Babies, they put on theatrical plays for which the band members are both compositional scorers and primary actors. I haven't had a chance to see them live, but it sounds like an experience not to be missed.

Palace of Mirrors is, quite simply, a load of fun. At the same time, it's a compositional wonder that's executed to perfection and produced beautifully - such a mix is rare indeed. No matter who you are, I am recommending this album to you. I'm even going to try and get my mom into it.

Amazing album from a very amazing band.......2006-12-30

Not much to say here (although I could go on and on). Superb (almost inhuman) compositional masterpieces, amazingly executed with one of the best studio-recorded albums I've heard in a long time. These guys really took their time with this one. The album as a whole is much more cohesive than past efforts, but don't worry--there's just as much estrasphere zaniness.......just go buy it--you won't regret it.

Average customer rating:

Trance Music - Takes You to Another Place
Beautiful
Relaxing and centering
Fantastic for a Yoga Class or Listening at Home!
Great music to accompany a massage.

Ritual
Gabrielle Roth & the Mirrors
Manufacturer: Raven
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Minimal Techno | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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Bones
Initiation
Trance
Tribe
Luna

ASIN: B0000000CC
Release Date: 1994-05-09

Tracks:

The Lonesome Song
Oceana
Cloud Mountain
Prairie Ruins
Crystal Cavern
Black Mesa
Stone Circle

Customer Reviews:

Trance Music - Takes You to Another Place.......2004-06-03

This is my favorite music of the two Gabrielle Roth and the Mirrors music I own. When I listen ... the first thing I hear is the rhythm and drum beats. They help me focus. As my mind calms down and body relaxes ... In track #1, "The Lonesome Song" - the native flute music, takes the listener to another time and place, where the spirit roams free but is alone, looking for the missing connection ... to another soul.On #2 "Oceana" my feelings ride the sound waves of the viola. There are haunting vocals that add depth and an other-worldly feeling to the music. In track #3, "Cloud Mountain", the kora, an African harp-like stringed instrument, along with the oboe and English horn are heard above the very enchanting drum beats. The most outstanding feature of all the tracks is the ritualistic drum ... keeps the unconcsious mind connected to its primordial roots. In track #4 "Prairie Runs", the rainstick is shaken at unexpected intervals ... to awaken the spiritual elements within the listener. Always, the drum beats connect the listener to the primitive aspects of the soul. This is trance-inducing music of the highest order. Highly recommended. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Beautiful.......2004-05-31

An amazing cd- Gabrielle Roth and the mirriors are a haunting group whose music will stay with you for a long time. A friend recomended this cd to me and also their other cd "Bones"(Also a superb cd) and i fell in love. everyone should own one to help relax and to promote peace through out everywhere

Relaxing and centering.......2000-06-24

Don't take this the wrong way--but this CD is wonderful to fall asleep to. The music will calm your mind after a busy day, without dragging you down. Before I go to bed, my mind is often buzzing with thoughts about work, family, friends. Once I turn on the stereo, all of that stops. Sometimes I want to think about something, I can't. I just go where the music guides me.

Each selection subtly blends into the next. But each piece is unique, painting mindscapes of beautiful mesas, summer campfires in the forest, or sunset on the beach--depending how you look at it.

Fantastic for a Yoga Class or Listening at Home!.......1999-09-21

This is an awesome album - I am a Yoga Instructor - I heard it in another class, and ran up to find out the title of this CD. I play it often, and now my students run up to ask me the title! I listen to it at home - it has rhythm as well as a balanced sound. Fabulous!

Great music to accompany a massage........1999-07-07

Great music to accompany a massage

Average customer rating:

Tranced Out-- and Liking It!

Trance
Gabrielle Roth & the Mirrors
Manufacturer: Raven
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Minimal Techno | Techno | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Ritual
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ASIN: B0000000CN
Release Date: 1994-05-09

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Nomad
Funkeridu
Shaman's Prayer
Bush Beat
Dervish Wind
Ghost Dancer
Medicine Dream (Drum Reprise)

Customer Reviews:

Tranced Out-- and Liking It!.......2001-11-08

This album is great for movement, for a background for meditative action or ritual-- just don't try it while you're driving. Although it is not a quiet, reflective album, its mix of beats, instrumentation, and murmurs is helpful in getting energy flowing.

Average customer rating:

Take your foolish "labels", and kindly shove them please.
This will take you to another world
This is the furthest style from Black Metal that I have ever heard..
I give this a 4.5
Fantastic Sophisticated Black Metal!

The Sham Mirrors
Arcturus
Manufacturer: The End Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Mantle

ASIN: B000063DHS
Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

Kinetic
Nightmare Heaven
Ad Absurdum
Collapse Generation
Star-Crossed
Radical Cut
For To End Yet Again

Album Description

A circus of symphony & technology, progressive rock & classical metal, all in a darkly tinged whole. Featuring Trickster G (Ulver), Hellhammer (Mayhem, Kovenant) & special guest Ihsahn (Emperor). 7 tracks. The End Records. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Take your foolish "labels", and kindly shove them please........2007-01-15

Arcturus is yet another band that laughs in the face of all the ridiculous little labels that people try to categorize music into. Try to call them black metal, or goth metal, or prog metal, or whatever else, but the truth is that Arcturus are a band that truly have a sound of their own.

Featuring members of Ulver and Emperor, there are of course extreme metal elements (mostly in the music, but a little in the vocals as well), but you've also got classical piano, electronica, trip hop, and some wacky circus type stuff that brings Mr. Bungle and Faith No More to mind. Garm's vocals here even sound a lot like Mike Patton, especially on tracks like "Kinetic" and "Ad Absurdum". "Collapse Generation" and "Radical Cut" make great use of blast beats (and the latter features guest vocals from Isahn of Emperor), and "Star Crossed" and "For to End Yet Again" are epic and unpredictable.

Overall, this is one of the best and most creative metal releases out there. Categorize it however you wish, but there is nothing else quite like this.

This will take you to another world.......2006-10-26

This, is easily in my top 15 albums of all time. This is beautiful, neo-classical Black Metal. While I always enjoyed Arcturus, this album took them to a new level, that few bands have even come close to reaching. The futuristic atmosphere/lyrics really seperate this band from the crowd. Plus, having members of Mayhem/Kovenant/Thorns/Ulver can't really hurt you when it comes to getting noticed. The reason I began investigating this band was Hellhammer, he is my favorite drummer period. His work on here is magical. Not as fast as later Mayhem but so well put together, he really sparks here. The keyboards here, are nothing short of beautiful. Sometimes they are in front of everything and they are the most powering insturment at the moment. Then other times, they blend in with the rest, to create something much bigger than itsself. Then, the almost classical guitar riffs will impress any musician and non musician alike.

This was definetly a departure for Arcturus, compared to the last few albums they released (and its a WHOLE different band from their Death Metal roots) As geeky as this sounds, it almost has an outerspace type vibe to it. Mostly because of Johnsen, whos magic behind the keys is hard to be matched (i.e Kinetic, Star-crossed, and For To End Yet Again) Also, you will notice the lyrical content, reflects the new found neo-classical outerspace vibe of this album. Much different than the anti Christian lyrics they had in years now passed. If you love the atmosphere that bands like Nokturnal Mortum, Anthems era Emperor and Limbonic Art then i'm sure you will definetly find enjoyment in this album.

Another positive for this album, is the vocals. They are all clean and Rex does not hold back like I felt he may have (even just a little) on previous Arcturus releases. now, it would be just as interesting to hear this with the dark normal vocals of Black Metal but I feel the singing adds to the beauty which Hellhammer(drums, Johnsen (keyboards), Valle (guitars) and Gravem(bass) create. It all comes together as a whole to create the magnum opus for Arcturus. TO further my point, everything balances itsself out. You don't feel like one thing is stronger than the other. Everything is well balanced and everybody in the group seemed to be on the same wave length. I can't say that one played better than the other here as everything is equal as could be. This is definetly recommended for any Arcturus fan.

1. "Kinetic" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 5:25

One of my favorite songs ever by any band. The guitars just plays this beautiful riff in the intro, to be added is Rex's beautiful vocals. Then they welcome you and the journey begins.....This is definetly the best example of everything playing off each other, one minute there is beautiful atmosphere literally dripping from the keyboards which slips perfectly into another amazing riff. Another reason I love this song, is that after the intro of this song plays out, Rex's vocals almost seem under water and then they explode in perfection. As Rex sings with melancholy the last few vocal lines, the beautiful keyboards in the final moments announce the departure of this amazing piece known as "Kinetic"

2. "Nightmare Heaven" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 6:05

There is little to be asked from this song, simply because it gives it to you within the first minute. Unlike the previous song, there is no waiting no anticipation as it starts going full speed from the start. I personally really enjoy the atmosphere from the bridge in this song, it follows more beautiful keyboards and it is almost an industrial type feel. It slowed the song down to a halt until exploding into a classical riff. The best part of this song though, has to be the final 90 seconds, between Rex's high vocals and the guitars/keyboards almost in a race together, blending speed and beauty into each other. You couldn't ask for much more as the heavy outro fades.

3. "Ad Absurdum" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 6:48

The first thing I noticed here, was the violins at the intro, Th seem to almost bounce. I don't really like Rex's vocals at the start of this song, he seems to drag them on a little too long. After a moment of spoken word, this problem is fixed and I really like the riff that follows, definetly Black Metal influenced. It continues throughout a good portion of the song, just at different speeds.While this is not one of my favorite songs, it is still a wonderful song driven by the keyboard outro and the riffs.

4. "Collapse Generation" (H., Hellhammer, Johnsen) - 4:13

The shortest song here, is also the fastest. A quick violin intro, is soon followed by Hellhammer giving an incredible performance behind the kit. This in my opinion, might be his best work here. The keyboards here are fast as well. There is not one dull moment in this song. The keyboards blend perfectly here. At the two minute mark, it does slow down (for a minute or so). The keyboards turn to almost that of a childs music box and it almost sounds disturbing. Before your thrown back to reality by Rex's vocals.

5. "Star-Crossed" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 5:01

The closest thing to topping Kinetic in my eyes. The keyboards here flow together well and are very classical. The type of ting you never want to stop and they seem to get darker as Johnsen goes on before they speed up and you really see how amazing Johnsen is at what he does. My jaw was dropping as I heard him. Then it drops and Rex doesn't sing per say but almost spoken word but not quite. Then his vocals really kick in at about the same time as Johnsen's keyboards return. No offense to the rest of the band but this is Johnsen's song, plain and simple. He shines here.

6. "Radical Cut" (H., Hellhammer, Johnsen) - 5:08

Ihsahn!! The only Black Metal vocals are given by one of the best. Ihsahn of Emperor. This is definetly an interesting song as the riffs and keyboards that have made this album so great thus far are present, yet the keyboards seem Emperor influenced from the start and Hellhammer definetly was prepared as he gives an amazing performance. Him and Ihsahn work well together. The keyboards near the end, actually seem electronical if you listen careful enough. All in all, an amazing performance.

7. "For to End Yet Again" (G., Johnsen, Rex) - 10:33

The first few mintues of this long farewell, had me asking what is this trash....as the keyboards in the intro just seemed dumb, boring and cheesy but little did I know, how beautiful this song would turn out to be. First off Rex gives his best vocal performance and so does Johnsen (yes even topping star-crossed) with such a beautiful atmosphere of perseverance I was shocked as I sat listening to this. This was something so special that no generic trash band could ever come close to doing something this beautiful. then comes an epic outro and then nothing.....

In conclusion, Arcturus has delivered an amazing, atmospheric and beautiful Metal album. For any fan who enjoys Opeth, Limbonic Art, Emperor, Nokturnal Mortum and Abyssos. Enjoy

This is the furthest style from Black Metal that I have ever heard.........2006-09-12

I do not know why people classify this as Black Metal, or even mention that genre in the same sentence as "The Sham Mirrors". Sure, the members that comprise Arcturus are all from popular and somewhat obscure Black Metal bands, but Arcutus is NOT BLack Metal in the least! If I had to pinpoint any element of "The Sham Mirrors" as sounding anything remotely to Black Metal, it would be the production and the guitar distortion, which has a Black Metal flair to it.
I would rather call music of this calibre genre defying and very progressive in nature. Combining elements of Symphony(pianos, string samples), with atmospheric and ambient Trip Hop(atmospheric drum samples and keyboards), with some(!) elements of Black Metal(some of the drumming, the guitar style) and Death Metal(drumming) and Progressive Rock(the whole style, basically).
Arcturus is unlike anything you have ever heard before. THey mix so many styles into their albums, its uncanny. The composition of each song is precise and ultra technical, almost written like a symphony. Vocals, on "The Sham Mirrors", are clean and beautiful. The drumming ranges from typical Metal(double bas and some blast beats, hyper drumming), to progressive and jazzy. And then there is the Trip Hop drum beats, which add so much to their style. The piano work on this album is haunting, eerie, yet absolutely beautiful and amazing.
Arcturus is the kind of band that is pushing our musical tastes into new directions and dimension, breaking molds and standards with creative thought and feeling. This is the kind of thing we need in our complacent society, where everyone wants to safely tread the worn paths and follow in the footsteps of others who came before them. In the music world, this just don't cut it for me. Arcturus truly have a style all their own that no one else has, literally.
I'm not sure what the lyrics are talking about, but that is not the essence of this album. The essence is the musicianship, and that fact that band members from some of the most brutal bands came together to make an album that is so beautiful and genre bending.

I give this a 4.5.......2006-06-29

This album is quite good, not as mind-blowingly original as some say, but a solid, original album with very few flaws - the recording isn't my cup of tea, and the piano solos are a bit trite and overly long. But on to the good stuff! First of all, Hellhammer's drumming is excellent, especially the cymbal groove in the last song. The vocals are perhaps the most original element of the album, done by Garm, and the Emperor vocalist does some nice (better word choice) on track 6. The sort of carnival/outer space/vaudeville atmosphere this album has is not to be found elsewhere, though there are a few parts that weren't particularly unique. I can't really describe the original types of riffs and things they have here, but it works very well. I'm sort of out of it right now, and I have a headache because I am tired. Good night.

Fantastic Sophisticated Black Metal! .......2006-06-13

This album took some getting used to, but now I just can't stop listening to it. Many people would agree that Sham Mirrors is not as good as their previous masterpiece 'Aspera Hiems Symfonia' but it's certainly comparable. One thing that I love about Arcturus is that they are not afraid of experimenting. The best songs are:

Radical Cut - Powerful beginning, Ihsahn from Emperor on
vocals and an amazing solo towards the end of
the song. Simply Superb!

Ad Absurdum - The first three minutes contain daring vocals and
a great lead guitar part. Then the song stops
and completely changes pace. The last 3 minutes
sound very majestic and etheral.

Nightmare Heaven - Good song to begin with but my favorite part
starts at 2:50. Great lead guitars with
athmosperic keyboards in the background.

Again words can't do any justice to the music of Arcturus. Pick it up and enjoy good music.

4.25/5

Music Info:

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